Canon 800D vs Nikon D5600

The Canon EOS 800D (called Canon T7i in some regions) and the Nikon D5600 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively,
in February 2017 and November 2016. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 24 megapixels. Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their sensors, their features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Canon 800D vs Nikon D5600

The physical size and weight of the Canon 800D and the Nikon D5600 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Nikon D5600 is notably smaller (8 percent) than the Canon 800D. Moreover, the D5600 is markedly lighter (13 percent) than the 800D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 800D nor the D5600 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. Yet, since both cameras are based around an APS-C sensor, their respective lenses will tend to have similar dimensions and heft.
You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Canon EF Lens Catalog (800D) and the Nikon Lens Catalog (D5600).

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, just use the right or left
arrows in the table to switch to the respective camera. Alternatively, you can also navigate to the CAM-parator app and
make your selection from the full list of cameras there.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The D5600 was somewhat cheaper (by 7 percent) than the 800D at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison: Canon 800D vs Nikon D5600

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors
differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the D5600 is 11 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have format factors, respectively, of 1.6 (800D) and 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors.

Even though the D5600 has a larger sensor, both cameras offer the same resolution of 24 megapixels.
This implies that the D5600 has a lower pixel density and larger individual pixels
(with a pixel pitch of 3.91μm versus 3.72μm for the 800D), which gives it a potential advantage
in terms of light gathering capacity. It should, however, be noted that the 800D is a somewhat more recent model (by 3 months) than the D5600, and its sensor
might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that at least partly compensate for the smaller pixel size. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the D5600 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The 800D has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during video recording.

The Canon EOS 800D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-51200.
The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon D5600 are ISO 100 to ISO 25600 (no boost).

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

Camera Model

Sensor Class

Resolution (MP)

Horiz. Pixels

Vert. Pixels

Video Format

DXO Portrait

DXO Landscape

DXO Sports

DXO Overall

Camera Model

Canon 800D»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Canon 800D

Nikon D5600«

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

24.1

14.0

1306

84

Nikon D5600

Canon 2000D«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/30p

22.6

11.9

1009

71

Canon 2000D

Canon M50«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

4K/24p

-

-

-

-

Canon M50

Canon 77D«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

23.6

13.3

971

78

Canon 77D

Canon 200D«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

23.6

13.4

1041

79

Canon 200D

Canon M6«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Canon M6

Canon 1300D«»

APS-C

17.9

5184

3456

1080/30p

-

-

-

-

Canon 1300D

Canon G7 X Mark II«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Canon G7 X Mark II

Canon 750D«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

22.7

12.0

919

71

Canon 750D

Canon 760D«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/30p

22.6

12.0

915

70

Canon 760D

Nikon D3400«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

24.8

13.9

1192

86

Nikon D3400

Nikon D5500«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

24.1

14.0

1438

84

Nikon D5500

Nikon D5300«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

24.0

13.9

1338

83

Nikon D5300

Nikon D3200«»

APS-C

24.1

6016

4000

1080/30p

24.1

13.2

1131

81

Nikon D3200

Nikon D5200«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60i

24.2

13.9

1284

84

Nikon D5200

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/60p).

Feature comparison: Canon 800D vs Nikon D5600

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The 800D and the D5600 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder.
The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon 800D and Nikon D5600 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

Camera Model

Viewfinder (Type or '000 dots)

Control Panel (yes/no)

LCD Size (inch)

LCD Resolution ('000 dots)

LCD Attach- ment

Touch Screen (yes/no)

Shutter speed (1/sec)

Shutter flaps (1/sec)

Built-in Flash (yes/no)

Built-in Image Stab

Camera Model

Canon 800D»

optical

n

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

4000

6.0

Y

n

Canon 800D

Nikon D5600«

optical

n

3.2

1037

swivel

Y

4000

5.0

Y

n

Nikon D5600

Canon 2000D«»

optical

n

3.0

920

fixed

n

4000

3.0

Y

n

Canon 2000D

Canon M50«»

2360

n

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

4000

10.0

Y

n

Canon M50

Canon 77D«»

optical

Y

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

4000

6.0

Y

n

Canon 77D

Canon 200D«»

optical

n

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

4000

5.0

Y

n

Canon 200D

Canon M6«»

-

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

4000

9.0

Y

n

Canon M6

Canon 1300D«»

optical

n

3.0

920

fixed

n

4000

3.0

Y

n

Canon 1300D

Canon G7 X Mark II«»

-

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

2000

8.0

Y

Y

Canon G7 X Mark II

Canon 750D«»

optical

n

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

4000

5.0

Y

n

Canon 750D

Canon 760D«»

optical

Y

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

4000

5.0

Y

n

Canon 760D

Nikon D3400«»

optical

n

3.0

921

fixed

n

4000

5.0

Y

n

Nikon D3400

Nikon D5500«»

optical

n

3.2

1037

swivel

Y

4000

5.0

Y

n

Nikon D5500

Nikon D5300«»

optical

n

3.2

1037

swivel

n

4000

5.0

Y

n

Nikon D5300

Nikon D3200«»

optical

n

3.0

921

fixed

n

4000

4.0

Y

n

Nikon D3200

Nikon D5200«»

optical

n

3.0

921

swivel

n

4000

5.0

Y

n

Nikon D5200

Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly
appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the 800D and the D5600 write their files to SDXC cards.

Connectivity comparison: Canon 800D vs Nikon D5600

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 800D and Nikon D5600 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

Camera Model

Hotshoe Port

Internal Microphone

Internal Speaker

Microphone Port

Headphone Port

HDMI Port

USB Type

WiFi Support

NFC Support

Bluetooth Support

Camera Model

Canon 800D»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon 800D

Nikon D5600«

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Nikon D5600

Canon 2000D«»

Y

mono

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon 2000D

Canon M50«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon M50

Canon 77D«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon 77D

Canon 200D«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon 200D

Canon M6«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon M6

Canon 1300D«»

Y

mono

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon 1300D

Canon G7 X Mark II«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon G7 X Mark II

Canon 750D«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon 750D

Canon 760D«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon 760D

Nikon D3400«»

Y

mono

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

Y

-

Y

Nikon D3400

Nikon D5500«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

-

-

Nikon D5500

Nikon D5300«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

-

-

Nikon D5300

Nikon D3200«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Nikon D3200

Nikon D5200«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Nikon D5200

Both the 800D and the D5600 are recent models that feature in their makers' current product line-up. The D5600 replaced the earlier Nikon D5500, while the 800D followed on from the Canon 750D.

Review summary: Canon 800D vs Nikon D5600

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 800D or the Nikon D5600 – has the upper hand? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Advantages of the Canon EOS 800D:

Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.

Arguments in favor of the Nikon D5600:

Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 67g or 13 percent) and is thus easier to take along.

Longer lasting: Gets more shots (970 versus 600) out of a single battery charge.

More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in November 2016).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the D5600 comes out slightly ahead of the 800D (5 : 4 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera.

800D 04:05 D5600

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the 800D or the D5600 handle or perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews: Canon 800D vs Nikon D5600

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). The full reviews are available by clicking on the site logo in the table header.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.